Becoming a woman of bold faith is not about perfectly checked church attendance, how much you volunteer, having the best snacks for life groups or having all the answers in Bible study. A bold woman of faith has real, bold, Jesus-glorifying, heart-wrenching, deep-in-the-trenches and fight for God’s truths in the midst of the lies, kind of belief.
Tearing and mending is the best way to describe death and loss and I’m learning we can’t really put life back together again until we’ve faced the coming apart.
As I wandered from room to room, feeling the cool breeze on my skin, I realized marriage sometimes feels like this house. Familiar, comfortable, yet tight and wholly uncomfortable. And the very idea of opening a door to my husband feels like a vulnerable and risky move. Keeping the storm windows shut feels like a much safer venture. Especially after a fight or misunderstanding or hurt feelings. Keeping everything sealed feels much softer. During times of conflict our hearts close up, it curls itself into a tight ball. A closed heart is stuffed with selfishness, faulty assumptions, and judgement.
My daughter is an artist. She’s been drawing, coloring, sketching and creating since she was a toddler. Sunday mornings are no different. She doesn’t come to church with just her Bible. She comes armed with her sketchbook, pens, and pencils. As the Paster preaches the message, she listens and creates. Sometimes it is version after…
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:7 One of the special ways Chris expresses his love for me and our kids is served up in the kitchen. It’s through the art of nourishment and food, which is a good thing, since I don’t know my way…
The setting sun refracted light off the water like thousands of broken mirrors. There I stood and took in the view, including the angry pink of Chris’ surgery scar, and I felt a gentle leaning into my soul. It was God and he was whispering. “It’s okay Heather. You do not have to be afraid anymore. It’s okay to let go. I’ve got this moment. I’ve got him and I have you.”